Air conditioning apparatus



June 13, 1939. H. E. BLOOD Er Al.

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. l0, 1934 .......w-...h-.n--u--cl NVENTORS Han/afd Zf Elea l Fas-5155er 75? zal? er:

June 13, 1939. H E, ELO-0D ET A| 2,162,523

AIR CONDITONING APPARATUS Filed Oct. l0, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 n In* m2 7 u ATTORNEY.

June 13, 1939.

H. E. BLOOD Er'Al.

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Oct. l0, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 BYF :5255er P7. 7025?,.-

l M L TORNEY.

June 13, E939. H. E. BLOOD Er AI. 4

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 4 sheets-*shea 4 Filed Oct. l0, 1934 Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Howard E. Blood and Rossiter n. Potter, ne-

troit, Mich., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Borg-Wamer Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application October 10,

15 Claims.r

together with air conditioning and circulating.

means for modifying or changing the tempera,- ture and/or humidity conditions within the space or area enclosed by said folding screen.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a mobile air conditioning unit for conditioning air within a relatively small localized Space.

Another object of this invention is to provide' a mobile or portable air conditioning unit, which, when folded or collapsed, is compact and occupies a relatively small amount of space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unit air conditioning device which is compact and which is adapted for universal use in homes and/or oflices for conditioning air in relatively small localized areas.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will `be apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thel accompanying drawings, of which there are four sheets and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of a device in collapsed or folded position and illustrating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the folded device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a more or less diagrammatic illustration of one use of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, in a home;4 l

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic illustration of the use of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 in an olce;

Fig. 5 is a modified form of a device illustrating the invention;.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the device illustra f ted in Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are illustrations of the use to which the device illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 may be put; l

Fig. 9 is an illustration of one form of air conditioning means such as may be employed inpracticing the invention;

Fig. 10 is an illustration of a modified form of panel or section that may bel used in connection with the devices illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the hinge such as may be employed for suitably securing adjacent sections of the folding partition or screen together;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the hinge mus- 1934, Serial No. 748,372

(C1. S12-I) trated in Fig. 11 and taken in a plane on the line I2-I2 thereof;

Fig. 13 is a view taken in a plane on the line I3--I3 of Fig. 10- and illustrating oneform of a. bottom sealing member that may be used with the sections of the folding screen;

Fig. 14 is an elevational view of a section or panel of the folding partition and illustrating a different form of sealing means;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken in a plane on the line |5-l5 of Fig. 14;

Figs. 16 and 17 are plan and sectional illustrations, respectively, of modifications of details; and

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional view illustrating a modified form of panel or section.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, there is illustrated a folding portable or mobile air conditioning unit or device comprising in general a cabinet 20 providing a housing for air conditioning and circulating mechanism and a support for a. panel 22, which, as illustrated, is of greater height and width than the cabinet 20 enclosing the air conditioning mechanism. 'I'he panel 22 is suitably afllxed to one face of the cabinet 20 and preferably is formed so that they portion thereof above the cabinet 20 is a transparent material such as glass, Celluloid or any other transparent material. The wings 2l of the panel 22 also are preferably formed to include a transparent portion.

Pivotally secured to the vertical end of each of the wings 24 is`a folding screen or partition 26, each of which partitions include a plurality of like sections or panels 28. As illustrated in Fig.

1, each 'of the panels or sections is transparent, and the group of panels in each partition are suitably secured to each other for folding and extension by any suitable means such as hinges 30.

Each of the partitions 26 is supported by.a Wing 24 of the panel 22, and the sections 28 of the partitions 26, when folded or collapsed, are adapted to lie in planes parallel to each other and to the panel 22 so that when the partitions are folded, the entire unit may be moved readily about the oor for selectively locating the same.

To facilitate moving the unit, the cabinet 20 and each of the sections may be provided with casters such as 32 and lill, respectively.

When it is desired to utilize the portable air conditioning device, the folding partitions 26 may beextended in a plurality of different ways to enclose or to partially enclose any desired space.

In Figs. 3 and 4 there are illustrated two different ways in which the partitions may be'extended to segregate or partially enclose the air in a localized space. In Fig. 3 each'of the folding partitions 26 have been extended forwardly of the panel 22 so that the free ends of the end panel sections 28 abut the wall 34 of a room or other enclosure.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated another way in which the folding partitions may be arranged to form a four-sided enclosure such as might be desirable for usein an oiiice for enclosing a relatively small space around a desk which is diagrammatically illustrated at 3B. To enable a person to pass into and out of the enclosed space or area it is only necessary to swing the end section of one of thepartitions upon its hinges, in which event said end section will be similar to a door.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, there is illustrated a modified form of structure in which the cabinet 28 has a panel 38 secured thereto, which panel is of less width than the panel 22. The panel 38 includes a pair of wing portions 48, preferably transparent, which provide a support for a pair of folding partitions or screens 42.

The folding partitions 42 may be' composed of sections or panels like the folding partitions 26 except that preferably a smaller number of sections are used. The device illustrated in Fig. 5 may be arranged in a great number of different ways. In Figs. 'l and 8 there is illustrated two different. arrangements of such device such as might frequently be used in a private home. In Fig. 'l the device is shown with the sections 28 extended forwardly from the panel 38 so that the free end of the last section of each of the partitions abuts against the wall 44 of a room. Such an arrangement may be used for enclosing a bed whereby the air surrounding the bed will be segregated from that of the room so that the air conditioning and circulating mechanism of the cabinet 28 may condition the air within such enclosure.

In Fig. 8 the device is illustrated as arranged to enclose a card table 48 and the chairs 48 therefor, so that the air around such furniture may be conditioned by the mechanism within the cabinet 28.

While the devices have in some instances been illustrated without any means for closing the top of the enclosure, there may be provided a roll screen 50, affixed to the panel 38 as illustrated in Fig. 'l'. The roll screen 58 preferably is formed of a fine mesh screening material of cloth, although a metallic screening material may be used. The roll screen 58 is preferably selfwinding and is adapted to be extended over the top of the enclosure from one end thereof to the other. The screen is supported at the sides thereof upon the top edges of the partition sections 28 by a plurality of transverse supporting members 5i carried by the screening material, and the screen preferably may be provided with a hook or catch 52 which is engageable with the end of the sections 28 for holding the roll screen in extended position.

Since the screening material is of a relatively fine mesh, air will not be able to pass through the screening material with any. great velocity, and thereforel the transfer of air from the enclosed space below the screen to the space outside o'f the screen and through the same will not be very substantial.

In Fig. 9 there is illustrated more or less diagrammatically the details of an air conditioning and circulating mechanism such as may be used in connection with the device. The cabinet 20 provides a support internally thereof for a compressor 54 of a refrigerating system which includes a motor 56 for driving the compressor, a

condenser coil 58, a receiver 60, and cooling coils 62 which are disposed in a duct or passageway 64. A fan 65 carried by the shaft of the motor 58 discharges a blast of air across the coils of the condenser 58 and through a screened opening 61 into the space outside of the cabinet 28 and the space enclosed by the sections 28.

The duct or passageway 84 at one end opens into the space enclosed by the folding partition and provides an intake opening 66 for withdrawing air from a lower lev'el of the enclosed space between the side walls formed by the sections 28. vA filter 88 may be provided with the intake opening 66 for screening the air as it passes into the duct 64. The duct 64 leads into a blower housing 'I0 wherein one or more blower wheels 12 are disposed and which are driven by the electric motor 56' by means of a belt drive 14 and a pulley 16 mounted upon the shaft 'i8 upon which the blower wheel 12 is mounted. The blower housing 'I8 is provided with an opening 88 which leads to a discharge opening 82 through which the conditioned air is discharged into the space enclosed by the folding partition. Within the opening 82 there may be disposed a grille 84 for directing the flow of the blast of air discharged by the blower wheel 'I2 into the space enclosed by the sections 28.

It will be observed, referring to Fig. 7, in which the path of the air currents set up within the enclosure is illustrated by the arrows, that the blast of air discharged from the cabinet 28 is so directed that different portions of the air stream will ow to different portions of the enclosed space. It will be observed that the upper portion of the air stream flows toward the upper limit of the enclosed space, as a result of which said portion of the air stream will come in contact with unconditioned air immediately above the enclosed space whereby relatively small amounts of unconditioned air will become entrained in the air stream and carried thereby into the enclosed area or space. Y

Since the enclosure is sealed around the floor and between each of the sections, as will hereinafter be explained, no air can be admitted to the 4 enclosed area except through the opening at the top thereof. The circulation of air as set up within the enclosed space by the air circulating mechanism will cause sufficient agitation of the air immediately above the enclosed space to cause air from the space above the enclosure to be drawn into the air stream and to be circulated therewith, whereby the air within the enclosed space will continually be changing. The air which is discharged from the cabinet 28'vwill be heavier than the air outside of the enclosed space, since such conditioned air will be colder and therefore will tend to displaceall of the warm air from the enclosed space and to fill the same with the conditioned air from the cabinet 2U. The air intake adjacent the lower level of the enclosed space will aid in the circulation of air within the enclosed space, so that the temperature condition within the enclosed space may be maintained substantially uniform.

' In Fig. 10 there is disclosed a modified form of section in which the lower portions 98 thereof are formed of some opaque material such as wallboard or plywood, and the upper portion 92 thereof only is formed of transparent material.

Referring now to Figs. l1 and 12, particularly, thel adjacent sections 28 of the folding partitions are hinged together at their vertical edges by a to each of the ends of a pair of adjacent sections by screws 96 which are threaded into the body of the frame 98 of each of the sections 28. The vertical edges of the sections 28 are semi-cylindrical in shape and are covered with a sealing member |00 of rubber or other sealing material. The sealing members extend from the top to the bottom of the vertical edges of each of the sections 28 and are cooperable with each other to eiect a seal between adjacent sections 28 regardless of the relative positions of the .sections 28 to which the ,same in use may be adjusted The screws 96 are disposed at the center of curvature of the semi-cylindrical end surfaces so that when the sections 28 are folded or adjusted, the sealing members |00 will roll upon each other. To

vfacilitate the rolling movement of sealing mem` bers |00 upon each other, there may be' provided, adjacent the top and bottom of the sealing members |00, meshing tooth members |02 carried by each of the sections 28, as illustrated in Fig. 16,

l or the sealing members may be formed, as illusl trated in Fig. 17, with tooth projections |06 .l which, besides maintaining a seal on the vertical edges of the sections, will insure that the members will roll upon each other and remain in l proper alignment.

` and the floor upon which the same rest; Each of the sections 28 may be provided with a caster ||0 for supporting the weight thereof and to enable the sections 28 to readily be moved. A shot-loaded skirt ||2 may be ailixed to the lower portion of the frame 98 of the sections 28 and of suflicient length so that the lower portion ofthe skirt H2 which is shot-loaded maintains contact with the oor. The seal effected between the lower portion of the sections 28 and the oor upon which the sections rest will prevent the passage of air along the floor' either into or out of the enclosed space.

In Figs. 10 and 13 there is illustrated a modified form of sealing means for the bottom edge of the sections 28 and which includes a metallic holder Ill suitably aixed to the bottom of the sections 28 and which provides a.l carrying means for a gasket ||6 of soft material such as sponge rubber and which will eiect sealing engagement with the oor, even though the partition may be extended over such obstructions such as electric cords and edges of a rug.

- The sections 28 are formed of a framework 98 of wood or other material. The members of the framework 98 are routed out on the inside thereof to provide a groove |8 in which the transparentar opaque panel can be supported.

In Fig. 18 there is disclosed a modified form of section in which the framework 98 is provided whereby the gaskets I6 may be released from the floor so that the sections may readily be extended or folded. For instance, s uch elevating mechanism may be associated with castors, such as those indicated at 32, and each or all of which may be adjustable inL height by a manipulative crank 33 of an elevating mechanism 35 operatively associated with each of the castors 32 and adapted for extending the same to elevate the unit including the gaskets 6 from the floor. After the sections have been adjusted, the mechanism 35 may be operated to lower the cabinet 20 so that the gaskets ||6 will contact the floor for sealing the unit around the bottom thereof.

While the structures and methods disclosed herein may be considered as illustrating a preferred form and application of the principles of invention, there is no intention to limit the invention to anything less than is fairly to be considered within the scope of the appended claims.

` We claim: i

1. In a mobile device for conditioning air with-V in a localized space, a cabinet for containing an air conditioning and circulating unit adapted to be freely movedabout on a floor, a panel secured to a face of said unit, a plurality of folding partitions secured to said 'panel, each of said partitions including a plurality of like sections hinged togetherl along their vertical edges and being extensible to provide a plurality of side vWalls' for enclosing a space, said partitions when extended lbeing adapted to rest upon said floor and being foldable so that' each section will lie in a plane parallel to said panel.

2. In a mobile device for conditioning air within a localized space, a cabinet for containing an air conditioning and circulating unit adapted to be freely moved about on a floor, a rectangular panel secured to a face of said unit, and a plurality of folding partitions secured to said panel and adapted to rest upon said oor, said partitions being adjustable to provide an enclosed space and when folded being disposed along side of said panel whereby said unit may readily be moved about.

3. In a mobile device for conditioning air within a localized space, a cabinet for containing responding sections of each partition will be disposed in opposite positions relative to said unit.

4. In a portable unit for conditioning air within a localized space, a folding partition including a plurality of rectangular sections adapted to rest upon a floor, a portion of each of said sections being formed of transparent material, said sections being hinged together along the vertical edges thereof and being adjustable to provide a plurality of side walls for surrounding a desired space, and a cabinet for containing a mobile air conditioning and circulating unit secured to one of said sections, and adapted when the sections are folded together to provide a supporting means therefor.

5. In a portable unit for conditioning air within a localized space, a folding partition including a plurality of rectangular sections of transparent material adapted to rest upon a floor, said sections being hinged together along the vertical edges thereof and being adjustable to form a plurality of side walls yfor surrounding a desired space within a room, and a cabinet for containing a mobile air conditioning and circulating unit secured to one of said sections and adapted for conditioning the air within the enclosed space.

6. In a portable unit for conditioning air within a localized space, a folding partition including a plurality of sections hinged together and adjustable to form a plurality of side walls for surrounding a desired space and atleast partially enclosing the same, said partition being adapted to rest upon a floor of a room and a cabinet for containing a mobile air conditioning and circulating unit secured to one of said sections and having air intake and discharge ducts in communication with the enclosed space.

7. In a portable unit for conditioning air within a localized space in a room, a folding'partition including a plurality of sections hinged together at the vertical edges thereof and readily adjustable to form a plurality of side walls surrounding and being supported on a desired floor area of said room, said floor being open to the ceiling of the room and the sections having less height than the height of said room, the bottom horizony tal edges of said sections being adapted to rest upon the floor of said room and provided with means forming a seal with said oor, and a cabinet for containing a mobile air conditioning and circulating unit secured to one of said sections externally of the space enclosed by said partition and adapted for conditioning the air within the enclosed space.

8. In a portable unit for conditioning air within a localized space in a room, and adapted to be freely moved about on the floor thereof, a folding partition including a plurality of rectangular sections hinged together and being adjustable to provide a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the floor of said room for enclosing a desired space in said room, a cabinet for containing an air conditioning and circulat- 'ing unit affixed to one of said sections and adapted for conditioning the air in said enclosed space, and an extensible screen carried by one of said sections along the top thereof which is porous to permit restricted flow of air therethrough and adapted to be extended to cover the space between said side walls and when extended to be supported thereby.

9. In a mobile unit for conditioning air within air enclosed space, a movable cabinet providing a housing for air conditioning and circulating mechanism, a panel secured to said cabinet and extending beyond said cabinet on all sides thereof, a folding partition pivotally secured to said panel and cooperable therewith to provide side walls for enclosing a space to be air conditioned by said mechanism, said partition including .a plurality of like sections, hinge means securing adjacent sections together, and cooperating sealing means disposed along the vertical edges of adjacent sections to provide a seal therebetween in all relative positions of said section.

10. A mobile air conditioning unit, having in combination a movable base providing a support for air conditioning and circulating mechanism a folding partition carried by said base and adjustable to form a plurality of side walls for enclosing a space, resilient sealing means provided along the lower edges of said partition and cooperable with the surface upon which said unit is supported for sealing the enclosed space along the bottom thereof, and means for elevating vsaid base to permit said partition to be readily adjusted. t

11. In a mobile unit for conditioning air within a localized space, a housing for an air conditioning unit, one wall of said housing being extended to form a side wall adapted to be employed as a wall for enclosing a space to be air conditioned, said side wall having a plurality of foldable partitions attached vertically at each of the ends thereof and adapted to rest upon the floor of a room, said partitions being of a length less than the length of said side wall and being hinged together along the vertical edges thereof to provide for rotation of one of said partitions upon the other, said partitions being foldable one against the other and against said side wall to provide a folded portable structure wherein said partitions lie parallel to one another and to said side wall.

12. In a mobile unit for conditioning air within a localized space, a housing for an air 4conditioning unit, one wall of said housing being extended to form a side wall of an enclosed space.

a plurality of foldable and collapsible walls atp tached to each end of said first wall and adapted to rest upon the floor of a room, said foldable and collapsible walls being hinged together at the edges whereby one of said foldable and collapsible walls may be moved around the end of another and whereby all of said foldable and collapsible walls may be extended either to provide side walls for enclosing a space to be air conditioned or folded against said first wall to provide a compact unit movable with said housing.

13. In a mobile unit for conditioning air, a housing for air conditioning unit having a side wall of substantially three times the width of said housing and having hinged to the opposite vertical edges thereof a plurality of foldable partitions having hinged means at the edges thereof whereby said foldable and collapsible partitions may be folded in parallel relation to one another and to said first wall in the region between the ends 4 of said first walls and the ends of said housing.

14. In a mobile unit for conditioning air within a localized space, a housing for an air conditioning unit having one side wall extended to form one wall of a localized space, a plurality of partitions hinged together at the opposite edges of said side wall, said partitions being of a length equal to substantially half the length of said side wall whereby said partitions may be folded together in parallel relation to said side wall and in end-to-end relation with one another.

15. In a mobile unit for conditioning air within a localized space, a housing for an air conditioning unit having a side wall which extends beyond the housing proper, a plurality of collapsible partitions attached to one edge of said side wall, said partitions being hinged together and to said side Wall to permit the same to be moved arcuately relative to one another to provide an enclosed space to be air conditioned by said air conditioning unit and to be collapsed relative to one another whereby said partitions may lie in parallel relation to one another and in the corners formed by the extension of the side wall beyond the housing.

HOWARD E. BLOOD. ROSSITER. R. POTTER. 

